The Karnataka state government, India's leading technology hub, is drafting a bill to strictly handle the act of spreading false information in cyberspace.
According to the proposed content, those who spread fake news or share content that is considered offensive to women or superstitious can face a prison sentence of up to 7 years.
The Karnataka government said the bill would be announced for public opinion before being implemented. The emphasized goal is to enhance transparency and order in the online information environment and protect the community from harmful content. The document also proposes the establishment of a specialized agency and a separate court to handle violations.
However, domestic experts and media expressed concern that the regulation is unclear because it does not clearly define "fake news" or " Contents offensive to women".
This can lead to abuse of power, affecting individuals who share unwanted mis misinformation or satirical, exaggerated content.
India currently has nearly 1 billion Internet users, and misinformation has repeatedly caused division, even incited violence. In recent elections, the appearance of fake videos created by artificial intelligence has made the need for information control even more urgent.
The Indian government has in recent years asked social media platforms to increase censorship and establish an information verification unit. However, the fight against fake news is still full of challenges.
The draft law in Karnataka is seen as a notable step, as states are seeking their own solutions to manage information in cyberspace.
